Chapter 5

< My Little Brother is Strange (3) >

Since it was still quite early in the evening, I decided to go to the Korean Hunter Association first.

'I might as well just get an F grade.'

I planned to reveal only my basic skills and keep my title and additional title skills hidden. If I had even a single L or S grade defensive skill, it would be too much for an F stat. Especially if the owner of a skill that can be used outside the dungeon, like a seedling, can't protect themselves, it's like putting up a sign saying, "Please kidnap and eat me."

They could just be kidnapped and forced to use their skills through threats and torture.

If it's a support skill that needs to be used during battle, there's a chance it might come out in a life-or-death situation, so it's better to form a normal party. But if it's a support skill that can be used outside the dungeon and is unrelated to battle, there's no need to spend money; they can just be captured and used like slaves.

There have actually been many victims.

'That's why I kept the Perfect Raiser title hidden.'

If I had revealed it to the association, I could have immediately raised my hunter grade, but I was too scared. At that time, I believed my brother and I had a falling out, so I thought I wouldn't be protected.

What should I do this time?

'It might be better to tell Yuhwan everything and get his protection while helping the guild with my skills?'

It's hard to explain the Dragon Slayer, so I'll exclude that and only tell him about the Perfect Raiser. Even if I just have a promising seedling, I can do a good job as an older brother. If I recruit talented rookies, the guild won't just kick me out; they'll probably give me a position.

I opened the door, lost in pleasant thoughts, and our eyes met.

"Uh... "

A tall man, easily over 190 cm, with a bulky build, was leaning against the wall in the hallway, looking at me with a stern face.

Kim Sung-han, an A-grade Awakened.

One of the loyal subordinates of Han Yuhwan, the guild leader of Hyeon, he is a battle hunter specialized in defense. Because of his high loyalty to Yuhwan, he used to see me as a thorn in his side. From his expression, it seems he still does.

But why is he here? It doesn't look like he's just passing by.

"Um... Hello?"

Kim Sung-han completely ignored my greeting. What's going on? This never happened before. When he was angry after being scolded by Yuhwan, he would storm out, shouting that he'd take care of it himself and telling me to mind my own business.

"I have something to do for a moment. I'll be back soon. Have a good day."

As I tried to pass by.

"You can't."

A deep, heavy voice stopped me. Not only that, but he grabbed my arm.

"The guild leader ordered me to prevent you from leaving."

"......What?"

Why? Does he think I'm going to look for an Awakening Broker again? Doesn't he trust me? I wouldn't trust me either.

"I'm not planning to cause any trouble. I'll just be out for a moment and be back in an hour."

It's only a 10-minute taxi ride to the Hunter Association, and it's a weekday, so there won't be many people. I can finish in an hour. But his grip on my arm didn't budge.

"Please go back to your room."

"But really, just for a moment... "

As I met his increasingly fierce gaze, my voice naturally became smaller. Right then.

[Your Intimidation is nullified!]

The Fear Resistance skill kicked in. But what's the point of having a skill? If I act like I'm not scared, I might get beaten up. It's really useless.

"Alright. I'll go, I'll go."

I shook off Kim Sung-han's hand and turned around. There's no point in running in front of an A-grade, and he's not the kind of person who would listen to reason. Should I use a skill?

As I turned, Kim Sung-han's eyes narrowed. What the hell. Staring at me won't work. When I used the 'Promising Seedling' skill, the status window appeared.

[Awakened ? Kim Sung-han

Current Stat Grade: A

Awakenable Stat Grade: A~S

Optimized Initial Skills

Failed to Obtain Indomitable Body (S)

Failed to Obtain Regeneration (S)

Obtained Earth Shield (A)]

What a waste! I almost shouted it out loud. His awakenable stats were up to S grade, and he could have obtained two S-grade skills! According to my memory, Kim Sung-han's initial skills were Earth Shield and Roll. Roll is A-grade, but it wasn't an optimal skill.

'Wow, what a waste. Can't re-awaken once awakened? Kim Sung-han, optimized awakening!'

[The target has not completed the keyword induction.]

Oh, the keyword.

[An already awakened target cannot be optimized.]

A message window appeared. Of course, it doesn't work. There's nothing I can do...

[My child can obtain a new skill, including a failed optimized skill, by focusing on the growth of a single L-grade skill.]

What! Is it possible to focus on the growth of a single skill? This system's explanation is really lacking. There are many hidden effects that are discovered late. Some skills even have additional effects without any message window appearing.

Anyway, being able to obtain a failed S-grade skill is amazing... amazing... but...

'Shit, the keyword.'

I looked up at Kim Sung-han. The rough man, who is 20 cm taller than me and has a presence that would make even a gangster call him "big brother," was giving me a look that said, "Why aren't you going in?"

No, I can't. I absolutely can't.

I smiled as if nothing was wrong and went into the room.

And I shouted in my mind.

'Change the keyword!!'

Can't reset, can't reset. I want to regress again. Just for one day. No, just for one hour.

I turned away, but it's such a waste, such a waste, so damn wasteful!

'If the guild had one more S-grade, it would be a huge help. Yeah, I should explain to Yuhwan and get his cooperation... '

As I muttered, I felt like I was missing something. If I explain the keyword? If I reveal everything about my skills?

A foreboding feeling hit me.

Let's calmly analyze the situation. Right now, I am...

'...being held captive.'

I'm trapped. Not just anyone, but an A-grade Awakened is guarding the door. It's too much to just prevent me from causing trouble. A C-grade, or even a D-grade, would be enough to stop me.

'Yuhwan, what are you thinking?'

You never did this before the regression.

I paced around the room and sat on the bed.

'If this is to protect me...'

I remembered Yuhwan saying he would make me delete the broker's contact and prevent me from receiving calls. It was a bit strange from the start.

No matter how weak I am compared to him, I'm still the older brother. I'm already an adult, and if I don't obsess over being a hunter, I can live a good life on my own. Moreover, we can communicate well now, unlike before the regression. There's no need to lock me up like this.

Besides, Yuhwan has no right or reason to lock me up.

I thought for a moment and took out my phone. I might as well ask directly.

After a short ring, Yuhwan answered.

"Hey, I'm just going out for a moment, but Kim Sung-han is blocking me. He says it's your order?"

[Where are you going?]

The Hunter Association... It's better not to say now.

"Just home."

[Why home?]

"Do I need a reason to go home? I'll be back by evening."

There was a pause, and then his voice came back, lower than before.

[That's a bit different from what Sung-han said.]

"Uh, yeah?"

[He said you'd be back in an hour.]

"No, that's because he was blocking me. I meant I wouldn't go anywhere else."

Why is he being so sensitive? The anxiety in my chest grew.

[If you have no other business, just stay. You might as well come to the guild.]

"What?"

[There's no need to live separately. It's not safe these days. There's no dungeon near your place, but you never know when one might appear. What if it does?]

But it won't be for the next five years.

[I'll arrange the move.]

"Move? Hey!"

[I'll be out until evening, so it'll be hard to contact me. If you need anything, tell Sung-han.]

"Wait, hold on! Yuhwan!"

The call ended. I looked at my phone, feeling both helpless and absurd.

'Is this a side effect of regressing?'

My brother's personality seems to have changed a lot. Why is he acting like this?

'Is it a bad idea to reveal the Perfect Raiser title?'

Even now, being seen as a non-awakened, I'm in this situation. If I reveal that I have very useful support skills, I might not even be able to step outside the room. ...I can't even leave now.

Damn, I need to keep it hidden and observe for a while.

'If Yuhwan keeps acting strangely, I'll build my own power base.'

With the Perfect Raiser title, it's possible.

First, I'll find future A~S-grade candidates and awaken them. It would be better to find younger ones. I'll persuade and coax them to become awakened...

'...This is basically fraud or human trafficking.'

But I won't take money, and I'll really awaken them!

To prevent the awakened from betraying me, I need a contract. Something like, "You will protect me as my affiliated hunter for a year without revealing the awakening secret." I'd like to say "for life," but there's no contract item that can bind an S-grade for a long time. The longest is 10 years.

By gathering A~S-grade candidates and using growth skills as bait to keep them around, I can quickly form a large guild.

'Or I could merge with Hyeon Guild halfway through.'

If I bring several A~S-grade candidates, Yuhwan will recognize me. He won't try to lock me up again, right? With people protecting me, I won't be easily caught.

Good, the first Awakened I'll target is...

Park Yerim, who will become an A-grade Ice Witch in three years. She's a good candidate. She stood out quickly among A-grades, so she might even be capable of S-grade awakening.

'She definitely lived in Seoul. I remember an interview where she said she lost her parents in the first dungeon shock and was living with relatives who run a meat shop near Myeongdong Station. She's... 15 years old?'

...A middle school girl. A middle school girl and the keyword...

I'm not a lolicon! I like adult women! This is just groundwork for awakening!

< My Little Brother is Strange (3) > End

ⓒ Geunseo

=======================================